While promoting his action-comedy film Heads of State on the UK program This Morning, reigning WWE Champion John Cena offered a rare glimpse behind his villainous on-screen character, speaking candidly about his final year as an in-ring competitor. Since his heel turn earlier this year, Cena has maintained a starkly different persona, but his recent comments revealed a more reflective perspective on his retirement tour.
When asked how he would feel after his final match, Cena provided a heartfelt admission that contrasted with his current aggressive character.
“Honestly, I feel great. I think I’ll be able to tell you how I felt when it’s January and it’s all done. But gosh, I’m looking forward to the next appearance and the next one. We got 15 dates left, I had 36 for the whole year. So, we’re halfway there and the audience has been great. We’ve been making some compelling TV. I’m really excited to see how it ends.”
The champion’s comments add another layer to his farewell tour, which officially began after his announcement at Money in the Bank in July 2024 that 2025 would be his last year wrestling. While at Wimbledon on July 2, 2025, Cena reiterated that he will remain with WWE in some capacity after he hangs up his boots, underscoring his lasting connection to the company.
This reflective attitude stands in sharp opposition to his recent actions on WWE programming. At the Night of Champions event on June 28, Cena successfully defended his WWE Championship against longtime rival CM Punk in a chaotic match. The bout, which was their first singles encounter in over a decade, saw interference from multiple wrestlers and continued to establish Cena’s dominant and villainous run as champion.
With his remaining dates dwindling, Cena is next slated to appear on the July 18 edition of WWE SmackDown in San Antonio, TX, as his historic career moves toward its conclusion.